From the archives
Classic headlineMan Struck by Lightning Faces Battery Charge
Source: Classic headline (CJR 'Squad Helps Dog Bite Victim' collections)View clipping source
Monday 12 October 2026
On This Day
What happened, who was born, who we lost — plus today's horoscope for every sign.
Discover thousands of historical events that happened on this day, your birthday, or any other day of the year. 1,000s of searchable events.
Daily Horoscope
Personal guidance for your zodiac, not generic. Energy, love, career.
On This Day
Real, verified events that share your birthday. Dozens of events per day searchable.
∞
Coincidence Engine
Pick a date to spin up its coincidences.
No coincidences yet
From CurioVault
Today's curiosity
Before dinosaurs existed, dragonflies with 2-foot wings ruled the sky.
Read on CurioVault.co → Today's headlines
- Man Struck by Lightning Faces Battery ChargeHall of Fame◆
- 1984Cattle Total Down 1.3%The New York Times◆
- 2018Labour pledges to reinstate Agricultural Wages BoardThe Guardian◆
- 2011Lucian Freud dies aged 88The Guardian◆
- 230Pope Pontian succeeds Urban I as the eighteenth pope. After being exiled to Sardinia, he became the first pope to resign his office.Wikipedia◆
- 1946After weeks of unrest, rioters lynched Bolivian president Gualberto Villarroel, desecrating and hanging his corpse in the streets of La Paz.Wikipedia◆
- 1959Elijah Jerry "Pumpsie" Green becomes the first African-American to play for the Boston Red Sox, the last team to integrate. He came in as a pinch runner for Vic Wertz and stayed in as shortstop in a 2–1 loss to the Chicago White Sox.Wikipedia◆
- 1951Canadian Pacific Air Lines Flight 3505 disappears while flying from Vancouver to Tokyo. The aircraft and its 37 occupants are never found.Wikipedia◆
- 1925Malcolm Campbell becomes the first man to exceed 150 mph (241 km/h) on land. At Pendine Sands in Wales, he drives Sunbeam 350HP built by Sunbeam at a two-way average speed of 150.33 mph (242 km/h).Wikipedia◆
- 230Pope Pontian began his pontificate, succeeding Urban I.Wikipedia◆
- 1877After rioting by Baltimore and Ohio Railroad workers and the deaths of nine rail workers at the hands of the Maryland militia, workers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, stage a sympathy strike that is met with an assault by the state militia.Wikipedia◆
- 1873At Adair, Iowa, Jesse James and the James–Younger Gang pull off the first successful train robbery in the American Old West.Wikipedia◆
- 1865In the market square of Springfield, Missouri, Wild Bill Hickok shoots and kills Davis Tutt in what is regarded as the first western showdown.Wikipedia◆
- 1861American Civil War: First Battle of Bull Run: At Manassas Junction, Virginia, the first major battle of the war begins and ends in a victory for the Confederate army.Wikipedia◆
- Man Struck by Lightning Faces Battery ChargeHall of Fame◆
- 1984Cattle Total Down 1.3%The New York Times◆
- 2018Labour pledges to reinstate Agricultural Wages BoardThe Guardian◆
- 2011Lucian Freud dies aged 88The Guardian◆
- 230Pope Pontian succeeds Urban I as the eighteenth pope. After being exiled to Sardinia, he became the first pope to resign his office.Wikipedia◆
- 1946After weeks of unrest, rioters lynched Bolivian president Gualberto Villarroel, desecrating and hanging his corpse in the streets of La Paz.Wikipedia◆
- 1959Elijah Jerry "Pumpsie" Green becomes the first African-American to play for the Boston Red Sox, the last team to integrate. He came in as a pinch runner for Vic Wertz and stayed in as shortstop in a 2–1 loss to the Chicago White Sox.Wikipedia◆
- 1951Canadian Pacific Air Lines Flight 3505 disappears while flying from Vancouver to Tokyo. The aircraft and its 37 occupants are never found.Wikipedia◆
- 1925Malcolm Campbell becomes the first man to exceed 150 mph (241 km/h) on land. At Pendine Sands in Wales, he drives Sunbeam 350HP built by Sunbeam at a two-way average speed of 150.33 mph (242 km/h).Wikipedia◆
- 230Pope Pontian began his pontificate, succeeding Urban I.Wikipedia◆
- 1877After rioting by Baltimore and Ohio Railroad workers and the deaths of nine rail workers at the hands of the Maryland militia, workers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, stage a sympathy strike that is met with an assault by the state militia.Wikipedia◆
- 1873At Adair, Iowa, Jesse James and the James–Younger Gang pull off the first successful train robbery in the American Old West.Wikipedia◆
- 1865In the market square of Springfield, Missouri, Wild Bill Hickok shoots and kills Davis Tutt in what is regarded as the first western showdown.Wikipedia◆
- 1861American Civil War: First Battle of Bull Run: At Manassas Junction, Virginia, the first major battle of the war begins and ends in a victory for the Confederate army.Wikipedia◆
Birthday twins
You share your birthday with...
Robin Williams1951
21 July in history
0 eventsEvents, inventions, discoveries and releases. Looking for people or sport? See , and below.
We are adding more verified events for this date - more coming soon.
No verified events yet for 21 July.
What happened on this day · Odd history for today
Vintage News — July 21
230 First everPope Pontian succeeds Urban I as the eighteenth pope. After being exiled to Sardinia, he became the first pope to resign his office.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1946 WeirdAfter weeks of unrest, rioters lynched Bolivian president Gualberto Villarroel, desecrating and hanging his corpse in the streets of La Paz.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1959 First everElijah Jerry "Pumpsie" Green becomes the first African-American to play for the Boston Red Sox, the last team to integrate. He came in as a pinch runner for Vic Wertz and stayed in as shortstop in a 2–1 loss to the Chicago White Sox.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1951 WeirdCanadian Pacific Air Lines Flight 3505 disappears while flying from Vancouver to Tokyo. The aircraft and its 37 occupants are never found.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1925 First everMalcolm Campbell becomes the first man to exceed 150 mph (241 km/h) on land. At Pendine Sands in Wales, he drives Sunbeam 350HP built by Sunbeam at a two-way average speed of 150.33 mph (242 km/h).
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
From The Guardian Archives — On This Day
2018The GuardianLabour pledges to reinstate Agricultural Wages BoardJeremy Corbyn to announce policy that aims to raise rural workers’ living standards in areas of high inequality
Read on The Guardian →
2011The GuardianLucian Freud dies aged 88Tributes paid to grandson of Sigmund Freud who lived to paint and 'redefined British art'
Read on The Guardian →- 1984The New York TimesCattle Total Down 1.3%
Cattle inventory declined 1.3 percent during the last year, about in line with predictions, the Agriculture Departmen…
Read on NYTimes.com →
Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform · Historic front pages via the NYT Archive API
Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Thumbnails CC BY-SA. Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform and the NYT Archive API. Historic pages via Library of Congress Chronicling America. Curated by OddlyTrue.
Strange but true headlines of the day
OddlyTrue News Stand
Did you guess the year?
Streak 0 days Best 0
When was “Pope Pontian succeeds Urban I as the eighteenth pope. After being exiled to Sardinia, he became the first pope to resign his office.” happening? Slide to your guess.
1950
Weird history, same day
- ???? First ever
Pope Pontian succeeds Urban I as the eighteenth pope. After being exiled to Sardinia, he became the first pope to resign his office.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1946 Weird
After weeks of unrest, rioters lynched Bolivian president Gualberto Villarroel, desecrating and hanging his corpse in the streets of La Paz.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1959 First ever
Elijah Jerry "Pumpsie" Green becomes the first African-American to play for the Boston Red Sox, the last team to integrate. He came in as a pinch runner for Vic Wertz and stayed in as shortstop in a 2–1 loss to the Chicago White Sox.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Hall of Fame headlines are manually verified clippings (source linked); nothing is scraped from Newspapers.com. Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Clippings from the Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers site.
Pick another date or enter your birthday (day + month only)
Viewing 21 July — today is 12 October.
Born on this day
1
1951Birth
Robin Williams born
Robin Williams, actor and comedian, was born on this day in 1951. Known for his improvisational skills and wide variety of roles.
Died on this day
17 in the archiveFive infamous ends — executed, assassinated or murdered — drawn at random from the archive. All infamous ends →
Assassinated
1980Death
John Lennon dies
John Lennon, musician, died on this day in 1980. Assassinated in New York City. Remembered as: Co-lead vocalist and founder of The Beatles.
Executed
1793Death
Death of Louis XVI
King Louis XVI of France was executed by guillotine in Paris during French Revolution.
Suicide
1890Death
Vincent van Gogh dies
Vincent van Gogh, painter, died on this day in 1890. Suicide by gunshot. Remembered as: Post-Impressionist whose work deeply influenced 20th-century art.
Suicide
2014Death
Robin Williams dies
Robin Williams, actor and comedian, died on this day in 2014. Suicide. Remembered as: Known for his improvisational skills and wide variety of roles.
Suicide
2016Death
Prince dies
Prince, musician, died on this day in 2016. Fentanyl overdose. Remembered as: Innovative artist known for his eclectic work and flamboyant stage presence.
Famous birthdays
1 this weekToday · 21 July
- Robin WilliamsAmerican actor and comedian (1951–2014)Born 1951 · 75 years ago today
Coming up this week
Nothing recorded for the next six days.
Celebration21 July
National Junk Food Day
A fun observance that permits a guilt-free indulgence in your favorite unhealthy snacks.
Music · No.1 on this day
What was topping the charts
The official No.1 singles and albums in the UK and the USA on this date, decade by decade.
2016 10 yrs ago
2006 20 yrs ago
1996 30 yrs ago
1986 40 yrs ago
1976 50 yrs ago
1966 60 yrs ago
1956 70 yrs ago
Sport on this day
0Finals, medals and records decided on 21 July.
No recorded sporting finals on this date yet.
Sporting almanac
Who was champion, 10, 25 and 50 years ago
World Cups, Olympics, Wimbledon, the Masters, Super Bowl and more — year by year since 1877.
2016 10 yrs ago
- Olympic GamesSummer Olympics in Rio
- WimbledonAndy Murray and Serena Williams win Wimbledon
- Super BowlDenver Broncos win Super Bowl 50
- Tour de FranceChris Froome wins the Tour de France
- The MastersDanny Willett wins the Masters
- World SeriesChicago Cubs win the World Series
2001 25 yrs ago
- WimbledonGoran Ivanisevic and Venus Williams win Wimbledon
- Super BowlBaltimore Ravens win Super Bowl XXXV
- The MastersTiger Woods wins the Masters
- World SeriesArizona Diamondbacks win the World Series
- NBA FinalsLos Angeles Lakers win the NBA Finals
- Stanley CupColorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup
1976 50 yrs ago
- Olympic GamesSummer Olympics in Montreal
- Olympic GamesWinter Olympics in Innsbruck
- WimbledonBjorn Borg and Chris Evert win Wimbledon
- Super BowlPittsburgh Steelers win Super Bowl X
- Tour de FranceLucien Van Impe wins the Tour de France
- The MastersRaymond Floyd wins the Masters
Why 2 million people will check OddlyTrue every morning
Learn, laugh, connect with history. Free daily email 7am. 1,000s of searchable events.